I don't fish populated fishing locations too often but when I do I treat the sport in a way that portrays my deep love for it.

I leave other fishermen that want to be left alone,alone.But I am usually willing to help out a fellow fishermen that needs help or direction.This could be friendly advice or tying up a rig.I love setting young kids up with a set up that I know will work.I often step back and let other fishermen have the room to have fun,I am rarely that caught up with catching a fish and love watching others enjoy the catching part of our sport.If somebody feels the need to be rude I have been known to set them straight.I treat others as I would want to be treated but do understand that the rest of the world does not necessarily think and feel the same as me,this is America for gods sake!

I am a catch and release fisherman 90% of the year and teach that as a reasonably as I can.When appropriate I let people know that I use single barbless hooks and catch more fish and am able to release more, to catch later,and preserve our fisheries, because of it.

Alot of people do not spend as much time as others being in the know about our fisheries and helping them out with knowledge of our fisheries is usually greatly appreciated.It is hard to keep up with all that is happening in our fisheries and I try to keep that in mind when dealing with other fishermen.

I do not tolerate people in the know abusing our fisheries,whether that be turning them into law enforcement or plain letting them know what they are doing wrong and giving them the choice of changing there ways or leaving my presence.We do not have sufficient law enforcement and people not in love with our sport will abuse a good thing if left unchallenged.This is always governed by the law not emotions.I do not fish fisheries that I know will contridict with my feelings but are legal.It is not my job to chastise somebody for doing something that is legal.

I never turn down the oportunity to take a kid fishing.I love watching,remembering the inosence and encouraging our young to take up our sport.I am afraid now that we are on the edge of losing alot of power as sportsmen because I see so few kids out fishing.Some body has to replace the previous,hopefully somebody that is educated in the needs of our sport.When I was a kid here in b-town I could ride my bike all over the county and fish productive waters unsupervised safely.That is not true now and I feel it is our responsibility to both the sport and to our young people to keep these opportinities there.

I do not litter let alone leave any thing behind but footprints.I actively clean up after those that do not take care of our resources.I feel that taking care of our resources is more important than complaining about others and not doing what I can do something or TAKE CARE OF THE RESOURCE.If you are not part of the sollution than you are still part of the problem!

When it comes to the boat vs bankie issue I stand down.Most of this interaction is on the rivers and I find it more relaxing and polite to just step back for a break.I have to say that I have never had a problem with a boater on the rivers I fish but have had some very rewarding experiences.Is this because I stepped back with a smile?Once again I do not fish the crowded waters over in the big city and never will,so this probably has something to do with that.I have fished down south a couple of times and do not not know how you guys do it.

I believe that there are alot of people that do not understand the grading fish issue and would benifit from education.I also believe that there are fishermen with a complete disregard towards stock trout.Education and enforcement are the two answers I see for that.

Stacie.
thank you for your extra ordinary efforts towards our fisheries and the sportsmen that use them.

peace
Greg